Welder&#39;s helmet



NOV- 27, 194.5. L., A. SEVERY 2,390,006

WEL-DER S HELMET Filed Jufle 8, l1942 2 Shee'LS--Sheei'l 2 :a INVENTOR'HWEENCE H- @EVERY s BY Patented Nov. 27, 1945 WELDERS HELMET Lawrence A.Severy, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company,Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts ApplicationJune 8, 1942, Serial No. 446,191

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to welders helmets and more particularly to awelders helmet having a novel headgear.

It is an object of the invention to provide a welders helmet with aquick acting headband adjusting means for adjusting and releasing theadjustment by a novel latching arrangement It is a further object of theinvention to provide a welders helmet with novel means for obtaining asuitable relative alignment of the headgear with the lens cells toobtain the desired Visual alignment when in use on the head oi a wearer.

A further object is to provide a novel headband adjustment means whichwill permit, by ratchet action, the headband to be adjusted to size by asimple squeezing of the parts together and which will also permit theheadband to be readily expanded by a simple latch mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a headband adjustmentfor a welders helmet with a rack and latch arrangement to facilitateadjustment and adjustment release.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel adjustment meansfor aligning the headband in relation to the lens cell.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means of aheadband size adjuster so that there will be a rack and latcharrangement to permit a sliding effect in one direction with a latch topermit expansion of the headband.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable headbandwith one portion thereof Y having a series of spaced locking members inthe nature of a rack, and a latch engagement means for engaging thelocking members so that there will be a sliding action of the ends ofthe headband in one direction with a locking of the headband whentending to move in the other direction, but with a resilient latchmember to release the rack-like member to permit expansion of theheadband.

Other and further objects may be and may become apparent to one skilledin the art from a perusal of the drawings and specifications herein, andit is -to be understood that the present disclosure is by way o'fillustration only, as equivalent parts may be employed within the spiritof the subjoined claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the weldershelmet.

Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. 1 showing, the relative elevationalmovement of the headband in relation to the helmet and with the frontlens cell in various positions.

Fig. 3 is an lexploded perspective View of the means for securing theheadband in pivotal relation with the adjustable headband bracket.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 3 with aconnecting screw inserted.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showing theheadband adjustment means with the latch in relation to the rack.

Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of one end of the headband which isSecurable to the block of the headband size adjuster.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, awelders helmet or shield l5 has a body portion I6 preferably of hardpressed fiber-which is adapted to protect the face of an individual. Aheadgear Il has a headband portion I8 and a head strap I9. The frontlens cell 20 has a front cover 2l, which front cell is pivoted by meansof screws 23 to the front cell holder 24. The view in Fig. 2 shows theadjustable headband bracket, with the screws 25 and 2t, with screw 26being the fulcrum or pivot point for the adjustable headband bracketwhile screw 25 receives the knurled nut 21 which is used for securingthe adjustable headband bracket in position after it has been adjusted.

The headband size adjuster 28 is shown for attaching the two rearportions of the` headband together.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the adjustable headband bracket 29 ispiovtally secured by means of screw 26 to the side portions of the bodyI6 while screw 25 has a nut 2l thereon, which nut may be loosened toSwivel the headband bracket, and thereafter tightened to secure same indesired angular position.

The headgear Il is shown partly in solid lines in Fig. 2 in an elevatedposition in relation to the body I, and the headgear is also showndotted in a lowered position. It will therefore be seen that theheadgear I1 may be raised or lowered so that when in position of use onthe face of a wearer, the lens cells of the helmet may be relativelyraised or lowered to adjust the line of sight vfor the particularindividual Wearing the helmet. The headband flanges 5l are secured tothe size Aadjuster holder block 3| by means of screws 32.

.A rack portion 33 of the headband E8 is attached by means of screws 34to form a rigid connection with the remainder of the headband. The rackportion 33 is curved inwardly so that when it slides through the sizeadjuster, the free end 35 touches the headband portion 3l so that it isnot spaced therefrom thereby avoiding the free end oi the headband fromsticking outwardly. Howeverl this curvature permits a slight spacing infrom the end 35 of the portion 33 from the opposite portion 31 of theheadband, but the free end 35 of the portion 33 actually touches thesurface of the opposite headband portion 31.

A chin strap 36 is pivotally connected by screws 31 to the body of thehelmet so that the chin strap may be swung about its pivot to suit theneeds of the individual wearing the helmet.

In Fig. 2, the front lens cell 20 is shown dotted, raised to ahorizontal position, and also to a position wherein it is swung fullyupward to a perpendicular position about the screws 23.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that the body I6 may have relative motion withthe headband, so that the body may be swung upwardly off of the face ofthe wearer. The view in Fig. 2 shows relative movement of the headbandwith the body I5 of the helmet, so that the elevational position of thebody i6 may be varied in relation to the headband to provide suitableline of sight for a particular individual wearing the helmet.

rThe means of securing the headgear I1 t'o the bracket 29 is shown inthe exploded View in Fig. 3 which may be considered in conjunction withFig. 4. The headband I8 has a metallic strip 38 which ts between theheadband and the widened. end 39 of the head strap I9. The head strapportion 39 and the metallic spring 38 are secured to the headband onopposite sides thereof by means of rivets 46. It will be seen that themetallic strip and headband portion 39 are curved away from the headbandI6 to afford a spring action when the parts shown in Fig. 3 are securedtogether. In assembling the parts, a screw 4| fits through the opening42 (Fig. 4) so that it does not protrude within the headband. The shankof the screw 4| is inserted through the holes in the rubber washer E3,the metallic friction plate 44, the hole 45 of bracket 29, and thethreaded portion 46 of the nut 41. The lug 46 on the friction plate 44extends through the hole 49 (Fig. 4) into the headband to preventrotation thereof. 'Ihe opposing lug 5D, on friction plate 44 rides aboutthe surface 5| so that it may engage the shoulders 52 or 53 and extendinto the slot 54 in the nut 41 which locks nut 41. When the screw 4|passes through the aforesaid holes of the various members shown in Fig.3, the rubber friction washer 43 and the metallic spring 38 are drawnsufficiently tight by the screw 4| to hold the body of the helmet in anydesired position when the headband is properly secured on the head ofthe wearer. The hole 55 receives the screw 26 (Fig. l) which attachesthe bracket 29 onto the side of the body I6. The slot 56 receives thescrew 25 (Fig. 2) to permit the body i6 of the helmet to be rocked upand down when the headgear is secured on the head of an individual. Itwill therefore be seen that the freedom of relative movement between thebracket 29 and the headband I8 will permit rotational movement of theheadgear Il'. The pivotal movement of the bracket 29 in relation to thebody |6 provides for -the relative positions of the headgear I1 as shownin Fig. 2 for aligning the lens cells for proper wearing position inrelation to the headgear I1.

In Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the headband portion 31 forms achannel between the flanges 51. The size adjuster holder block 3| isinserted between the flanges 51 and is secured thereto by screws 32which are passed through the holes 53 into lthe holder block 3|. Theshoulder 59 is spaced from the headband proper to enable the rackportion 33 to freely `slide between shoulder 59 of the holder block 3|.,and the por-- tion 31 of the headband I8. The block 3| has a slot 60therein and has aligned openings extending in a direction transverselyof the slot in which a slotted pin 6| is pivotally mounted so as to passthrough the holder block 3| and extend transversely of the slot 60. Alatch 62 is inserted in the slot of the pin 6| and is secured thereto bymeans of the pin 63. The width of the latch is slightly smaller than thewidth of the slot 60, but it is not sufciently narrow to permit theslotted pin 6| to move sidewise an amount sulficient to permit it tobecome dislodged from the aligned pivot openings in the holder block 3|.A spring guide 64 is connected to the latch 62 by means of a pin l65. Aspring 66 ts over the end of 'the spring guide 64 with the other end ofthe spring fitting into a hole 61. The latch tip 68 is so shaped thatwhen the rack member 33 is moved to the left, the latch 62 will be urgedagainst the action of the spring 66 until the latch tip 68 is urged intothe next slot such as 69. The left side of the latch tip 68 will engagethe next rack tooth such as 16 and hold the rack member 33 from beingwithdrawn from the size adjuster block 3|. When it is desirable torelease the latch 62, a pressure toward the headband on the fingerportion 1| of the latch 62 will raise the portion 68 out of the slot 69so that the rack portion 33 may be freed and withdrawn from the sizeadjuster 28. The rack portion 33 is detachably secured to the strap end39 by screws 34 and nuts 34', as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. There are twoyscrews 34 spaced one above the other which may be removed so that therack portion 33 may be detached and be replaced by a new rack portion ifdamaged.

The angle 'of the left side of the latch tip 68 is such that it willdefinitely prevent the tooth 10 from passing the latch tip 68 when thelatch 62 is in the position as shown in Fig. 5, but it is such a sharpangle that it will not cause a binding when the latch 62 is manipulatedby the finger portion 1| against the action of the spring 66.

The adjustable headband bracket 29 is pivotal as described above toprovide relative elevation between the headband and the helmet body sothat the helmet body may be raised or lowered to bring the horizontalcenter of the lens cell on the same plane with the eyes so that thecenter of the lens cell is aligned with the eyes of the particularwearer. This is accomplished by loosening the screws 25 on therespective sides of the shield to permit the brackets 29 to be pivotedabout the screws 26. The slotted ends 56 which straddle the screws 25shift their related positions with respect to the screws 25 whereby themain headband I1 may be raised or lowered as illustrated in Fig. 2. Theamount of .adjustment is determined by the line of sight of the wearerand is such as to move the lens cell in proper position before the eyes.When this position is located, the respective screws 25 are tightenedthereby retaining the brackets 29 .in adjusted position.

The soft rubber friction washer 43 acts as a spring to keep the propertension between the headband and the adjustable headband bracket 29. Thefriction washer 44 with tabs 46 and 50 thereon is to provide frictionalcontact between the headband and the headband bracket 29, with the tabson the washer being adapted Vto prevent rotation of the nut 41 withrespect to the screw 4| so that a substantially constant friction ismaintained by adjustment of the screw after the screw iis once properlyadjusted. The friction washer remains stationary in relation to thescrew while the headband rotates with respect to the bracket 29 which isthe tilting adjustment means for bringing the lens cell of the helmetbody in alignment with the eyes of the individual wearing the helmetwhen the helmet is in position of use before the face. Once the bracketis adjusted for an individual so that the line of sight of theindividual is aligned with the lens cell, it may remain fixed. However,when the helmet is not in use, it may be swung up over the head and heldin said position by the frictional connection between the headband andthe adjustable headband bracket.

It will be seen from the above that the welders helmet has means forproducing the various factors set forth in the objects.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A welders helmet of the class described comprising a face protectingportion, a headband supporting structure pivotally connected to saidface protecting portion, said supporting structure embodying a band-likemember having overlapping endl portions, one of said end portions havingan uninterrupted inner surface for engaging the head and havingflange-like members extending outwardly of the side thereof opposed tosaid inner surface and in substantially parallel relation with eachother, a block secured between said flangelike members, with the base ofthe block spaced from the outer surface of said end portion an amountsufiicient t0 produce a slideway for receiving the opposed end portionof the band-like member and with said block extending outwardly of saidouter surface an amount sufficient to produce hand engagement means,said block having a slot therein, and a spring-pressed latch pivotallysupported by said block and lying within said slot with one end thereofextending into the slideway, said opposed end portion of the bandlikemember having a plurality of spaced notches therein adapted to beengaged by the end of the latch member extending into the slideway, saidlatch member being so arranged as to permit the end portion having theplurality of notches therein to move freely in a direction inwardly ofthe slideway and .to engage an aligned notch for restricting movement ofsaid notched end portion in the opposite direction.

2. A welders helmet of the class described cornprising a face protectingportion, a headband supporting structure pivotally connected to saidface protecting portion, said supporting structure embodying a headstrap portion and a band-like member carried by said strap portion andcomprising two aligned sections having overlapping end por-tions, one ofsaid sections having an uninterrupted inner surface for engaging thehead and having angelike members extending outwardly of the side surfacethereof opposed to said inner surface and in substantially parallelrelation with each other, a block secured between said flange-likemembers, with the base of the block spaced from the outer surface ofsaid section an amount sufficient to produce a slideway for receivingthe opposed end portion of the other section and with said blockextending outwardly of said outer surface an amount sufficient toproduce hand engagement means, said block having a slot therein, aspring-pressed latch pivotally supported by said vblock and lying withinsaid slot with one end thereof extending into the slideway, said othersection having a plurality of spaced notches therein adapted to beengaged by the end of the latch member extending into the slideway andbeing detachably secured to the head strap portion in alignment with thefirst section whereby said other section may be removed and replaced bya new section when the portion having the notches therein becomes worn,

said latch member being so arranged as to permit the section having theplurality of notches therein to move freely in a direction inwardly ofthe slideway and to engage an aligned notch for restricting movement ofsaid notched portion in the opposite direction.

LAWRENCE A. SEVERY.

